state Kiwanis governor

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

Sept. 4, 2000 11 PM

Troy attorney Joel Williams will serve as governor of the Alabama District of Kiwanis International for the year 2000-2001 beginning Oct. 1.

Williams served as governor-elect during the past year and received the training necessary to enable him to take over the helm of the district leadership.

He has attended two training sessions in Indianapolis and one in Miami to help prepare him for the high position in Kiwanis International.

"The training sessions helped us as district governors to learn more about the Kiwanis organization and its various projects, to set our goals and to get familiar with the professional staff that will be assisting us during our terms," Williams said. "Being a district governor will be a very demanding position – even more so than I thought when I was elected."

Eighteen years ago, a friend invited Williams to attend a Kiwanis meeting with him. Williams did and he was immediately sold on the organization.

"I have always believed in giving back something to the community where you live and work," he said. "I can not think of a better way to do that than through Kiwanis."

Williams said the fun and fellowship of the weekly meetings are secondary to the commitment to the local and worldwide service projects of the organization.

Locally, Kiwanis sponsors the Key Club at Charles Henderson High School and the Circle K at Troy State University.

"Our Kiwanis Club is very supportive of Reading is Fundamental Program," he said. "We are readers for the Head Start Program here in Troy and we present each child with his or her own book. We also sponsor the reading program at the Troy Public Library on Saturday mornings."

The local Kiwanis Club is also involved in Kiwanis International’s worldwide project to prevent and eradicate Iodine Deficiency Disorder which is the major organic cause of mental retardation in the world.

"This is such a great project because by simply adding iodine to the diet, we can prevent and eradicate Iodine Deficiency Disorder," Williams said. "Kiwanis International is raising funds to iodize all the salt in the world and eliminate this disease from the face of the planet. We are already three-fourths of the way there."

Williams said only a nickel’s worth of iodine in the diet will prevent this terrible disease.

"Once this project is completed, the IQ of the entire planet will be raised by several points. What an impact that will have for all of humanity."

Williams said his challenge as governor will be to promote the idea among Alabama Kiwanis Clubs that they are not just a part of a local club but of district and worldwide organizations.

For Williams, his volunteer governorship of Kiwanis will mean devoting hundreds of hours

to meetings and training sessions, but it will not be a burden, rather a rare and honorable opportunity.

"Alabama is divided into 14 Kiwanis divisions and I will visit each one during the year," he said. "There will also be a mid-winter conference, district conventions and training sessions that I will be asked to attend. I have already been to Mobile, Decatur and Birmingham and I haven’t even officially taken office yet."

That will happen on Oct. 1, 2000 and, then, on Oct. 3, the outgoing governor of the Alabama District of Kiwanis International will be in Troy to present the "Home of the Governor" banner to the Troy Kiwanis Club.

That will be a day in which all members of the Troy club can take great pride as they honor themselves by honoring one of their own – Alabama District Governor of Kiwanis International Joel Williams.